Wright State Raiders

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For many years, Wright State's sports teams used a character called Rowdy Raider as their mascot; a red-bearded Viking with a horned helmet, which emerged in 1986. In 1997, the Viking was retired and the Wolf was born. In 2007, Rowdy Raider received a new update for the mascot suit; a gray, scarier wolf replaced the more humorous brown wolf.

Wright State University has the Ervin J. Nutter Center, a multi-purpose arena located on campus. Opened in 1990, the Nutter Center is consistently considered to be one of the top arenas of its size. The venue is used for concerts and sporting events (including Wright State Raiders men's and women's basketball). It also serves as the home arena of the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League.

Among the Raiders' most notable athletic achievements are the NCAA Division II men's basketball national championship in 1983, and taking a turn at March Madness in 1993, qualifying for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as champion of the Mid-Continent Conference; the Raiders qualified again in 2007 as winner of the Horizon League tournament. The men's and women's swimming and diving teams are also consistently strong. The men have won 6 of the last 13 conference championships.

The Wright State men's basketball team has seen the national spotlight several times since the program moved to Division I in 1987-88 and into the new Nutter Center in 1990. In 1993, the Raiders qualified for the NCAA Tournament, and since then Wright State is 5-0 all-time at home vs Top 25 competition. In 1995, Wright State defeated #25 Xavier, 71-70, their first ever home win over a Top 25 opponent. In the 1999-2000 season, Wright State beat #8 Michigan State at the Nutter Center, 53-49. On February 10th, 2007 Wright State welcomed their Horizon League rival and ninth-ranked Butler Bulldogs to Dayton. In an impressive showing that would lead the Raiders to be named ESPN.com's "Team of the Week", Wright State dominated No. 9 Butler, 77-65. [1] The Bulldogs returned to Dayton for the 2007 Horizon League tournament final, where Wright State again beat No. 17 Butler (by a score of 60-55) to earn a berth in its second-ever NCAA Tournament. DaShaun Wood, the Horizon League Player of the Year, led Wright State with 27 points and 5 assists. [2] Wright State continued its streak the following season, defeating #13 Butler, 43-42. [3]

[edit] Players in Professional Sports

  • Brian Anderson, former Mid-Continent Conference Pitcher and Player of the Year (1992) and finalist for the Golden Spikes Award (1993), was drafted by the [Angels] in the first round of the June free agent draft in June 1993 after completing his junior year. He made his major league debut in September 1993. [4]
  • Bill Edwards played for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1993.[5]
  • Keith Gordon was drafted in June 1990 by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the amateur draft. [6]
  • Carlos Pena attended WSU and Northeastern University before being drafted by the Texas Rangers as the 10th pick of the 1998 amateur draft. [7] [8]
  • Vitaly Potapenko currently plays for the NBA Sacramento Kings. He was selected 12th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1996. Potapenko was named the Horizon League's Newcomer of the Year for the '94-'95 season, and led the Horizon League in FG% in both '94-'95 and '95-'96 while garnering First Team All-League honors both years. Vitaly was born in Kiev, Ukraine. [9]
  • Bill Shea is currently a backup quarterback and vice president of communications for the Port Huron Pirates professional indoor football team. The Pirates play in the Continental Indoor Football League. Shea was part of the inaugural Pirates squad that went 12-0 and won the league title. [10]
  • Frank Lickliter has been on the PGA tour since 1991 and has over $10 million in career earnings. He has won 2 PGA tournament titles in his career and finished 2nd on four separate occasions. [11]
  • Joe Smith is a Major League Baseball player who currently is a reliever for the New York Mets. He quickly ascended through the minor leagues and is now in his rookie season. "Smitty" keeps hitters off-balance with his unusual siderarm delivery. Teammates have also nicknamed him "Mighty" Joe Smith.
  • Dashaun Wood was invited to the Atlanta Hawks summer league team and since signed with the Italian Division A basketball team, Cantù.
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Horizon League